Disclaimer: Really? If I was owner I would be Goddess Supreme and a Multi-Billionaire producer.

A/N: Thanks to ALL the marvelous reviews, keep reviewing! ALSO DON'T FORGET TOMORROW THE PREMIERE, I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM GOING TO SEE THE LAST CHAPTER OF HARRY POTTER! IT HAS BEEN A DECANDE OF EXCITEMENT WITH THE MOVIES, TWELVE TO THIRTEEN YEARS THAT WE HAVE ALL GROWN WITH THE BOOKS, SO FAR AS I AM DOING MY MEDIA ANALYSIS FOR MY CLASS ON HARRY POTTER, I COULD NOT HELP BUT COMMENT IT IS A MOVIE THAT MARKED A GENERATION! THIS CHAPTER WAS INSPIRED AS I WAS RE-READING HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS SO YOU MIGHT FEEL SOME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES HERE FAMILIAR WITH THE LAST TWO CHAPTERS AND THE EPILOGUE.

ENJOY!

~VXLP

"I stayed in one place for too long -got to get on the run again

I saw the one thing that I want -helped me get out of bed

I am throwing rocks on your window, you are trying to put sheets together

they say that we are dreaming too big -I say this town is too small

Dream

Send me aside turn back the clock

give me sometime I need to break out

and make a new name lets open our eyes

to the brand new day, it's a brand new day

I have taken hits like Apollo but I am getting back up again

and from the moment I saw her -I was hell bent with heaven scent

I am throwing rocks on your window -we are leaving this place together.

They say we are flying too high, get used to looking up

Dream

Send me aside turn back the clock

give me sometime I need to break out

and make a new name, let's open our eyes

to the brand new day, it's a brand new, it's a brand new day

I know it's a brand new day, come on to the brand new day

I know it's a brand new day

Dream

Send me aside turn back the clock

give me sometime I need to break out

and make a new name let's open our eyes

to the brand new day, it's a brand new

Dream

Send me aside turn back the clock

give me sometime I need to break out

make a new name let's open our eyes

to the brand new day, it's a brand new day,

it's a brand new day"

~"Brand New Day" by Bryan Star

1553, April

Greenwich Palace:

The court had not been allowed to move since the Queen was very in far in her pregnancy. Three more months give or take. She had been growing very big, she told Edward she was as large as a whale. Edward joked about it with his ministers which her brother being one of them in the Privy Council told her afterward and she was not all too happy when he came to visit her during her confinement.

Confinement, she thought. How she hated confinement. She was not allowed to move, eat, or sleep without somebody watching he.

It was ridiculous but Edward emphasized on it greatly, having been a sickly child he had been very concerned with his health and his loved ones' he could not bear loosing Annie or their child, he wanted her to be in the best care. The physicians visited her daily, it was a dull environment, she longed to have this child out of her system so she could return to her normal routine and return to her charity, tending to the poor, to the schools for girls that she and Edward were building for women of their class, and organizing banquets, things that made her life much easier.

"I will get it" Said Pipa after hearing an incessant knocking.

Annie watched her chief lady in waiting answer the door, she willed herself up when saw who it was.

"Your Grace Eustace Chapuys" Pipa announced, Annie needed no introduction or personal greeting for and from her father, but for appearances sake and to keep their relation secret, they had to greet each other this way.

"Your Majesty it is good to see you are faring well" Eustace said giving his daughter an open smile and bowing low for her despite the incessant pain in his legs.

Eustace was allowed to visit his daughter from time to time when he stayed in Court. As Annie increased in size he hardly left Greenwich, even when Edward moved his Privy Council elsewhere, Eustace stayed and sent one of his secretaries in his stead. Edward hardly missed him, he was closer to Anthony and Barnaby anyways to hear the ravings of a paranoid old geezer like him.

Annie went over to him and took his arm. None of the ladies were so surprised by the level of affection she showed to her "uncle". Nothing of what their mistress did hardly surprised them anymore.
"Your Grace is very kind" Her eyes became very firm to the rest of the inhabitants in the room, "Leave us" Everyone with the exception of Pipa left. Edward wanted someone with her at all times, and since Pipa was the only one she could trust she was allowed to stay and listen to all of her friends' conversations.

"Alone at last" She said inviting him to sit next to her.

"Thank you" he said feeling relieved. His other leg was starting to give him trouble and Bess had insisted on adding another cane, he refused.

"You are being stubborn father, you should know better than to go against your doctor's orders" Annie remarked.

Eustace sighed putting his hand on top of hers, bidding her not to worry. "Annie I am old, I have survived this long without complaining why can't you and Bess leave this matter in my hands?" He asked tiredly.

Annie overlooked his annoyance. "I worry about your and so does Aunt Bess, you should pay more attention to her, life it would be so much easier for you"

He released her hand and ran his fingers through her loose hair. It was very early in the morning and he had been worried he would interrupt her morning sleep but he was glad that punctuality was among her good traits.

"I should be the one worrying about you" He said setting his other hand on her stomach. He felt the child inside her shift its position and kick. Annie winced but not in pain but in surprise. Her Prince hardly did that when she placed her fingers, Edward had to be around to get a response from her little hunter -as she and Edward got to call their son.

"How certain are you it is a he?" Eustace questioned loving to hear his daughter refer to his grandchild so lovingly. She was done explaining how she and Edward had come up with the name "little hunter". One day Edward had been gazing at the stars and the first constellation he encountered was the one of Orion that Annie pointed out to him, from there on they agreed that their first child, their first Prince would be called the little hunter and as Orion he would become a star amongst his people. There was no doubt in his mind Annie would be a good mother, but he didn't want her to become too confident, who knew what God had in store for the child or the child was a son? He didn't want her to start crying the moment she discovered the child was not what Edward wanted, but Annie did not listen.

"It is a Prince father" That was the end of the discussion, her mind was made up.

Eustace sighed. Why did all Tudor women have to be this arrogant and stubborn?

He switched topics. "Who will be its godfather?"

"You of course" Said Annie confidently not wanting another argument though they both knew she was lying. Edward wanted to force unto the population the belief she was the legitimate child of Philip Witteslbach and Mary Tudor. Ignorant royals they believe they can change the minds of everyone with just one word -Eustace thought. Like his father Edward believed he was God's vicar on Earth and he was only glad that he and Bess were able to get him away from Cranmer and the Dudley's influence. His wife had every reason now to hate Cranmer. He had started as the Boleyns' chaplain and her main supporter during her mother's trial and after when she'd been left orphan and with nothing but her sister's hand-me-downs and charity. Recently Cranmer had become as fanatics as the superstitious Catholics (of Eustace's faith) he'd condemned. The man despite his talent was becoming a staunchly, rebellious, fanatic, and lunatic. It didn't help that he was beginning to side with the Greys, a family Bess did not like for obvious reasons. Cecil had warned her about them, and Eustace had his own reservations with that lot as well. They claimed royal rights as they were partly Tudors through their matriarch, Frances Brandon who was the daughter of Charles Brandon and Princess Mary "Rose" Tudor who'd been the younger sister of Henry VIII. By all means they deserved royal treatment, except they were in his daughter's way, and anyone in his daughter's way was by definition his enemy and Bess' as well.

"Your Aunt asks constantly for George" He added. "He is such a smart boy but she worries he has no friends."

"Then bring him here" she said hoping her smile would charm him into doing her bidding. It did not.

"She worries about him" Eustace went on to say when Annie's eyes were begging him not to touch this subject.

"Why must you keep it shun? You let Anthony come to Court" she pressed "Why not George" Her blue orbs locked gazes with his equally light blue ones. It was like looking in a mirror, same eyes, same nose, same cheekbones, skin, but whereas Eustace had broad shoulders and a short face, Annie's was longer and the shape of her eyes were the same as her birth mother's and her grandfather's, and her hair was the Tudor trademark, red.

"Annie George is simply not ready. He is not you or Tony, he is not ready for a life of intrigues and besides I have heard from a little birdie that someone used one of informants to tell you and Edward he is keeping correspondence with your younger sister, Mary's child"

Annie rolled her eyes, she should have known her father would have found out sooner or later. "I was planning to tell you"

He smirked "When?" He whispered chuckling "Ten years from now?"

"No, but I am glad you know now. Another reason why you should bring George, he would be safer here and not think he is being shunned by everyone."

"He is Annie, and I am not going to risk him getting involved with that silly girl"

"Father he is only ten, Katherine is ten as well"

"Aye, ten with the malice of an experienced woman, she is her mother's daughter I fear and you see how close she is to your brother"

"Half brother" she corrected.

"That or not, she should be one to watch out for, she is the lion's cub like you and your Aunt, but she has the wisdom of an owl, and the quickness of a fox, and the deviousness of a she wolf"

Annie was dismayed to hear her father speak so about an innocent child, vain yes, but innocent child. How could someone so beautiful, with eyes so enchanting and with the face of an angel be the product of something so malicious like he was describing? He had been wrong before, he had said that all of her mother's brood was flawed, but here she was, Anne Elizabeth Chapuys, wife of Edward VI and carrying the next King of England in her womb. Not all that bad people produced were meant to inherit their parent's evil, she was proof of that.

"How can you judge someone based on her parents? Are you not afraid that I will turn like my mother or for that matter as you when you plotted against Anne Boleyn or my Aunt?" She said softly though her tone was slightly accusing.

He mused on her words. He regretted many things, and Anne Boleyn and what he had done to Bess was one of many, but he had forgiven himself and come what may he could not be stuck in the past, he had to move on. Yes God would hold him accountable for everything he'd done, but for the years he had left, he hoped that he would live to see Annie give birth to a son, or a daughter if the worst came and spend the rest of her life next to the husband she loved and the many children she would have, as she had proven herself to be fertile.

"I am sorry" Annie said after a long silence watching him set his tea on the table in front of them. She knew that it was a touchy subject and she scolded herself for being so pushy, but her father had to learn to trust her judgment. She was not as experienced as he, but she was his daughter and she had inherited his great intellect and aptitude for knowing who to trust, yet he still treated her like a child but part of her wanted that to remain for she could not imagine a life without him by her side counseling her, reassuring her that everything was going to be fine even when it would not.

She grasped his hand, he smiled. It reminded him of Bess and even Mary when she had told him that he was her truest friend. How naive he had been at the time. Going back to that time he realized that Annie was right. Who was he to judge when it was proven he was only human, and capable of great error in judgment despite his great experience.

"I only want you to be cautious Annie, I want you to be strong. This is a country of intrigue and masks, anything can happen, you never know who to trust look at me and your mother"

She smirked and gave her father a reassuring smile later as she spoke, her eyes holding on to the same magical twinkle that made her eyes sparkle, it gave everyone the impression they were staring at two saphire jewels instead of two human orbs. "Nothing you said or do will make me change my opinion of you. You are and always have been the person I trust. I realize now that I have to be strong for you and my family, but I ask you to let me learn life's lessons on my own"

He looked down and sighed deeply before looking up again "Very well, but remember Annie, no matter what happens I want you to be strong and even when you believe you cannot be, I will always be there for you to remind you who you are, what God had planned for you since the beginning"

Annie chuckled, it was so amusing to her when her father spoke in riddles. "What ever are you talking about old geezer?"

He chuckled as well at her nickname for him. He cupped her cheeks and kissed leaned forward kissing her forehead. "I was so uncertain when you were born, it was when you turned three and Andrew was born that I realized who you really were, before I used to think that you were a girl looking for love and affection, desperately seeking your mother's approval, but when I saw how you held on to me when Anthony was born, I realized that God sent me an angel to watch over me. You are my redemption, I love you more than anything and anyone else in God's green earth. I would not trade the life I had now for everything if it meant a life without you. You my daughter are the greatest miracle that ever happened to me, Bess being my first."

Annie could not help but ask "Have you ever regretted laying with my mother, my true mother?"

"No, never" he was adamant in his response "If it wasn't for her Annie, you would not have been."

"You love her still don't you?" She questioned. "It is alright father I won't be mad, I love her too and incredible as it might seem, part of me still yearns for when she would recognize me and not only in name, as her daughter, and treat me as such."

"If you were a faithful Catholic like me I would say to pray ten hail Marys to make up for your sin of vanity and pride, but I cannot for I know what it is to be torn between to family members. My uncle fought for my custody against my mother after his brother, my father died. It soon became a custody for power rather than who cared the most about me. My mother became so absorbed to prove she was better than my uncle that she ceased to be the loving mother I knew from my childhood"

"Why don't you share that with George as you did with me and Anthony?" She questioned bringing back the subject of her younger brother. He was a shy boy who needed to get out and explore the world like his siblings. But his parents were babying him too much and he was not a baby, he was going to be eleven this year, they had to let him gro up.

Eustace nodded however he did not feel secure with another child as his in the court, especially one as gullible and secretive as George. God knew he wanted his son to grow up and get noticed by the rest of the court, but he was simply not ready yet, he argue.

"Give him a chance, he is just a child he needs to learn how the world works. He needs friends, real friends and not fictional characters from books!"

"I know Annie, I know! But what do you want me to say, your Aunt does not let him out of his sight when he is with us, and when he is at Hatfield she writes to him constantly"

"Then convince her you are her husband, and if not then let me talk to her. It does not bode well to have one sibling in court while the other is sulking in your residence. George feels resentment toward Anthony I have seen it papa. He thinks that you love Anthony more than he!"

"That is not true" he protested rising from his chair in outrage. He never once favored either of his children. He loved Annie above his children by Bess, but he never let it show, much less around George who'd always beg for his attention and Eustace would give it without question.

"It is" she said back, her voice calm, but her expresion became firm as she stood up, one hand placed on her belly and the other still held on to his hand for support. The baby turned as if it did not want to be bothered by the discussion.

"Annie when you are well we can have this conversation, you need to rest"

"I have had enough rest, I want you to promise me, here and now that you will convince Auntie Bess to bring George and give him the same attention as you give Anthony"

"Annie -"

"Promise me" She insisted with that tone that gave no room for discussion.

He sighed and rolled his eyes. All these Tudor women -he thought. Curse me.

"Fine" He surrendered "I will talk to Bess and we will see what we can do to have your brother here as soon as possible. Happy?"

"Very. Thanks papa I knew you would not be able to say no" She said squealing and willing herself forward she embraced her father and gave him countless kisses on his cheek. Eustace held on to her and chuckled. God this child was going to be the death of him, but he did not care one bit as he felt the warmth of her embrace.

1553, May 14th

Hertfordshire: Hatfield -Chapuys Residence.

George held a make believe sword fight with made believe friends. Imaginary his father called them, but he corrected his father and siblings every time they would call them that. They were not imaginary! Imaginary friends were products of insanity and George Chapuys-Tudor was NOT insane. He was very sane, he knew what was real and what was not and in the abscence of friends he had no choice but to create his own world where he was with friends with everyone. In this world there were no limits to his prowesses, he was mighty, powerful and a strong lord and all the girls bowed to him. In this world there was no Anthony or Annie, there was only him and his subjects. In this world he was invincible, he was important, he was loved.

George put his wooden sword on his mother's vanity. He knew she would be upset to learn he had made such a huge mess, but he was not afraid. One glance made her anger disappear. It was very easy to work with his mother when she was not around Anthony.

Anthony was always the favorite, the ladies' man, the brave one, the intellectual one. It sickened him! He was hungry for attention and he was not gaining anything with his parents leaving him here like he was some plague they needed to get rid off!

"Lord Chapuys?" His governess Kat Ashley called. She had to come and spoil all the fun. She found him playing on his mother's chambers, she gasped when she saw all the mess, the disheveled hair around the boy's head and the sheets on the floor dirty with the food he had stolen from the kitchens.

"Sorry" he said with a sheepish smile walking past Mistress Ashley.

"Hold on there Lord George you are not getting of this easily!" Kat said taking the little boy's arm.

"Let go of me!"

"No, not this time little mister! Now see here we have a whole mess to explain to your mother" The boy's eyes became widened, he did not want his mama to be mad. "I got your attention I see! Tell you what I promise not to tell on one condition"

George did not know what the woman was going to ask but he felt he was not going to like it.

"Help me and Sarah clean up!"

George gasped. Did he hear right? She was asking HIM of all people to clean up? He looked at his hands. Ugh. No! He would not dirty his hands. He screamed at Kat he would rather be scolded a thousand times by his parents, he did not care. But he would never let his hands be stained with somebody else's dirt.

"Need I remind you it is your dirt"

"I don't care, I am not doing it"

"Fine then what if I tell your little girlfriend Katherine how you have been acting like a pig lately?" She challenged.

That shut George right up. "You would not" He said feeling scared for the first time, he took a step backwards releasing himself of Kat's grip.

"Yes I would, I have seen you writing to her and your father knows Lord George, now she means the world to you. What you see her in I just can't see. Bet Katherine will not be too enchanted if she finds out you behave like this"

George hated these mind games, he was the grandson of a King, he did not deserve this treatment!

"Glare at me all you want, you are not getting off this one. So what do you say, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, there is no in between little lord"

He crossed his arms against his chest, and stomped his foot on the ground yelling it was not fair, but Kat did not show signs of impatience. She waited until it was over. "Well?" She pressed.

"I will help" He said gloomily.

Kat's face lighted up. "Very good, now welcome to the cleaning team, stay here and don't try to cheat me, I have eyes everywhere your father taught me a few tricks. I will get Sarah and don't worry I will make sure you don't stain your fine hands" Kat said with a grin, she felt pity for the boy. It was not his fault he acted the way he did. It was his parents. They kept treating him like a child, a Prince and by all means they should. He was the son of the true Princess, and the grandson of Henry VIII. He was of royal blood, a true English gentleman, but he was a child no less and he didn't spend time with other boys his age.

~o~

After they were done cleaning he asked Kat if he could retire to his room. Kat saw no reason why not. George was left with his books again. He chose to read the first Spanish text his father had given him for his fifth birthday. How he got ahold of it was a mystery but his father still had connections with other Imperial Ambassadors, he must have gotten from Francois Van der Defelt, his immediate successor. El Cantar del Mio Cid it was one of his favorite romances along with Sir Thomas Mallory's Le Morte d' Arture. These novels were his inspiration to his dreams and writings. Like Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar he dreamed of going on adventures, fighting the infidels and bringing peace and justice to his people.

But they were fairy tales, even if King Arthur had existed, he doubted there was ever a magical figure like the Merlin to help him get through all his obstacles. Life was not that simple, you simply couldn't wish for your problems to disappear, you had to fight for it.

Someone knocked on his door, he huffed, he hoped it was not Kat Ashley again. He would not do another chore again!

"Who?" He cried.

"Come little brother you want to sulk there all day with your imaginary friends?" George rolled his eyes and threw his book. Anthony! What did he want now? George opened the locks and let him in.

"Yes?"

"Oh don't be rudy Georgie I simply want to see how are you? You are still reading your fantasies?" Anthony questioned going over the books he had thrown on the floor. "Cantar del mio Cid, ah I remember when father read this to me I was -"

"Five years old yes I remember"

"Can't believe the old man got you another fresh copy. And look signed by him to you -with love father. Aww so romantic" he jested messing his hair.

He pushed his brother's hand away. "Why have you come here Anthony?"

"Temper, temper Georgie! I come here in peace, I simply wanted to see how you were doing, can't I have some time alone with my brother?" He went over and put his arm around George.

George wanted to push him but Anthony was older and stronger than him, he had inherited his fahter's muscular form and his broad shoulders while George was thin as his mother's. A true embarrassment.

"You always come here for a reason" George stated, his eyes were full of resentment.

Anthony sighed. He wanted to have a good time with his brother, but George didn't want to do anything with him. He was jealous of Anthony and resentful for the attention he received. Tony did not want it to be that way, they were brothers they were supposed to be better than this.

"Yes" he admitted "Father wants you to come with us to Greenwich so we can be present at Annie's son or daughter's birth"

George's head perked up, his eyes turned from their gloominess to excitement. He gasped. "Really? Me?" It was too beautiful to be true, they never asked for him before!

Tony nodded giving him a light smile and poked his nose playfully, Georgie was so distracted he did not even notice. "You are to come as soon as possible."

Georgie gave a childish smile. Finally some recognition! He said to Anthony he would not disappoint their family, he would be on his best behavior "I will do what you ask of me, anything to prove myself"

"You do not need to do anything, just be yourself"

George's face fell. Being himself never worked. Tony saw the uncertainty in his face, and lifted his chin. "Georgie ... George listen to me. You will not disappoint anyone, I know you, you are my brother you will do great. Just know who you are talking to before you decide to give that person your trust, and always be ready to serve the King and our sister when they ask of you. Their needs surpass ours remember?"

George nodded vigorously.

Tony gave his brother a wink. "So soon are going?" George asked as his brother led him downstairs. "What about my stuff? My wardrobe?"

"Packed and packed, remember mother always keeps spare clothes for us in everyone of her chambers. Let's move it, you know how mother and punctuality go hand in hand"

George nodded, their mother had no tolerance for tardyness. "And father remember he hates us not being on time either"

"True" said Tony when they were inside the carriage. The driver taking the reins willed the horses to move forward. George saw the Hatfield castle disappear.

"But personally" Tony said coming to sit next to George. "I'd watch out for mother"

"Tudor" They both said nodding gravely but laughing afterward as they exchange stories of what they had done in the months they had been abscent from each other's presence.

When the carried pulled to a halt. George breathed deeply, he braced himself for what was to come. The door was opened and he jumped from the carriage walking ahead of Tony to his future home. Come what may he could be sure that no envy, no resentment would ever scar him again, and as he entered all his doubts were erased and that was the end of his worries.

A/N: Hope you enjoy!

~VXLP